COVID-19 hospitalizations in Tennessee have risen at a far lower rate in areas that have mask-wearing mandates than those that don’t, a new analysis from Vanderbilt University researchers found, reinforcing evidence showing that face masks play a significant role in slowing coronavirus transmission. The study found that in Tennessee hospitals where less than 25% of patients came from counties with a mask mandate, hospitalizations as of Oct. 23 had risen by more than 200% since July 1.
Hospitals in which 26% to 50% of patients were from counties with mask mandates saw hospitalizations rise by approximately 100% since July 1.
In hospitals where patients came from counties where more than 75% of patients were under mask mandates, there was virtually no change in the level of hospitalizations since July 1, and hospitalizations only slightly increased in hospitals where 51 to 75% of patients were under mask mandates.